Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Simply Modern Christmas - book review and giveaway

My favorite thing about blogging, by far, is the window to meeting wonderful new people it has given. One of those ladies, to be added to my ever growing "would love to meet in real life" list is Cindy from Hiyacinth Quilt Designs. I tease her that I want to be her when I "grow up" (which really just means that I love her style and fabric combos, and I'm pretty sure we could happily share stashes). When she asked if I would like to review her new book, Simply Modern Christmas, I was very happy to do so.

Pros of the book -

The styling is Christmas, but most of the patterns are universal and lend themselves easily to multiple fabric combinations. Cindy uses really fresh and pretty color groupings throughout, and it was easy for me to envision the designs with various combinations. Cindy blogged about all or most of her patterns, if you want to see some other examples!

The patterns are thoroughly explained with words AND diagrams (which is nice for multiple learners!)

In my opinion, the projects in this book are perfect for gifts -- there are some great, beginning to intermediate designs that are easily customized to your gift-giving needs.

My next "personal" quilt will be my oldest granddaughter's annual quilt, a Perfect Ten made out of Sarah Jane's Let's Pretend line. And then maybe one for me, a Kaffe Fassett pattern made with some fabric I was gifted by a friend! Thanks for the chance to win - this looks like a book I must have!!

Either granddaughter's quilt, neighbor farewell quilt, niece wedding quilt or help my DIL finally get her Christmas quilt designed and made. The niece and the neighbor have deadlines, they probably should take priority. Thanks.

I love the Hanging around pattern and the two versions. I have been wanting to make a doll quilt for a while now and have seen a very cute pattern... I'll have to make two though because I have two daughters!

I'm making a modern Flying Geese next for a baby boy but now I have seen the Hanging Around quilt I have to make one of those, may be for my yoga teacher's baby which is due next month. Thanks for the chance.

Love the rainbow version of "Hanging Around" ... particularly the black and white random background ... looks so effortless, random, and casually effective!

My next quilt is for my daughter's 21st birthday - she designed the pattern, and the fabric just came for me to start sewing - a lovely plus quilt in Michael Miller white with citron pluses, and a touch of fabric she printed herself. Can't wait!

My next quilt will be a pattern by Elizabeth Hartman called Avalon. The original quilt used the Avalon fabric line by JayCyn for Birch Fabrics & I've collected the same prints & will use them in the quilt. Thanks for the chance to win.

HOly cow, I love your quilt. Love love love the Flight print in the center. Adore it. My next project is a quilt to donate to Margaret's Hope Chest. And I need a good zipper pouch tutorial. Thanks for the chance.

Well, now that tree skirt just got bumped up to near the top of my list! I have a few sets of blocks that need to be made into quilts, so that's next on my list. This book looks great - thanks for the chance!

I saw your version before I received the book in the mail yesterday. I really like the book a lot. I was surprised I hadn't found Cindy somewhere before, but I have already poked around her blog, and started following her at all the usual places. Nice review.

Currently I am working on a quilt made up of blocks received from my quilt guild's members. Blocks are various stars! The next will be a baseball t-shirt and after that one a quilt basically using yellow fabric. I haven't chosen the pattern yet. Thanks for the opportunity to win! Ire alas love the star quilt. Definitely the fabric makes that quilt sing!

LOVE your rainbow version, so beautiful. The black & white birds (?) in the middle are so cool. Thanks for reviewing the book, I have a whole stack of Christmas fabric waiting to be made into a family quilt (hopefully this year).

This book looks great and it's good to know it has patterns for us kinda new to quilting people :) My next quilt is a baby patchwork, along with bumpers, skirt, curtains and an owl softie. Found your blog through this book review link and love it!

I LOVE your rainbow hanging around quilt!!! In fact your Treasure Boxes quilt is next on my to make list...I have the Honey Honey charm packs in hand and all the white squares cut up! Very excited to make it! This book looks great...thanks for the review and the giveaway!

Thank you for the opportunity - my next quilt is a really simple Christmas one, but I'd like the one after that to be that beautiful wreath hanging! I love your rainbow version for the rest of the year too!

I want to make a quilt for a young friend, who is a missionary in China. I will be using the Mama Said Sew collection since she lives red, white, and black and text fabrics. I just have to decide on a pattern. I would love some suggestions. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book, the quilts look great,

This looks like a great book - thanks for the review and the chance to win! As it's getting to be that time of year, my next quilt is a Christmas gift - making a quilt out of Twelve Days of Christmas embroidery blocks that my cousin made to give to her daughter. I think it's going to be beautiful!

I especially love that while the books provides Christmas-themed inspiration, the ideas can just as easily be used in non-theme ways.

I'm eager to get started on my first quilt for my grown daughter. It's going to be a granny squares quilt using vintage fabric scraps from clothing made by her grandmother and great grandmothers. I HOPE it looks as fantastic in real life as I imagine in my head.

I have a rather lofty goal to make a Christmas quilt for each member of my family (but not for THIS Christmas, oh no...). I love the patterns in this book and I have a large tub of Christmas fabrics just waiting for the right pattern. Meanwhile, I am collecting a bunch of WIPS to work on at two (yes, TWO!) quilt retreats coming up (one in Oct and one in Nov)...can't waith!

I just did a pearl bracelet quilt done in moda marble swirls and it turned out pretty good but I'm still collecting pearl bracelets I just think it would still be cool to make since I already have this one on my christmas present list..

I just did a pearl bracelet quilt done in moda marble swirls and it turned out pretty good but I'm still collecting pearl bracelets I just think it would still be cool to make since I already have this one on my christmas present list..